New Haven Man Admits Participating in 2009 Laundromat Arson

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OSVALDO SEGUI, JR., 22, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to one count of conspiring to destroy property used in interstate commerce by fire. The charge stems from SEGUI’s participation in the July 2009, arson of a New Haven laundromat.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2009, SEGUI and others devised a plan to set fire to the People’s Laundromat on 83 Lombard Street in the Fair Haven section of New Haven. The plan called for SEGUI to set fire to the laundromat with the assistance of another individual, and both expected to be paid or receive other benefits for their participation in the arson.

On July 30, 2009, SEGUI accessed the People’s Laundromat from the back door and poured gasoline into a hole that had previously been cut into the ceiling. The gasoline ignited, which resulted in a fire in the building. Shortly after the fire occurred, SEGUI went to the Yale New Haven Hospital Emergency Room to be treated for burns to his legs. He was discharged the following day.

In early August 2009, in an effort to conceal his conduct and avoid detection, SEGUI left Connecticut and temporarily relocated to Florida.

As a result of responding to the fire at the laundromat, a New Haven firefighter sustained injuries that rendered him temporarily disabled and unable to return to work without limitations until November 2009.

Judge Droney has scheduled sentencing for May 19, 2011, at which time SEGUI faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven years and a maximum term of 40 years.

U.S. Attorney Fein commended the substantial efforts and cooperation of the several agencies involved in this investigation including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, the New Haven Police Department, and the New Haven Fire Department.

U.S. Attorney Fein stated that the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information that may be relevant to the investigation should call the FBI at 203-777-6311.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Reynolds and Ray Miller.